Funders

CASJE is committed to supporting philanthropic decision-making in Jewish education guided by sound evidence. We enable and nurture high-quality applied research in the field, ensure that findings are widely shared and seriously considered, and assist in securing funding that facilitates that research.

Funders of Jewish education and engagement programs and initiatives are critical partners in CASJE’s work. Individual philanthropists and foundation professionals are represented in our convenings, panel discussions, and events alongside researchers and practitioners.

As part of its core work, CASJE is cultivating an active community of funders who are knowledgeable about, and committed to supporting, applied research. This work occurs through webinars, conference-based workshop sessions (at Jewish Funders Network and other venues), and stand-alone, customized gatherings.

CASJE has received seed funding from the Jim Joseph and AVI CHAI foundations of $3.6 million over six years to support the infrastructure necessary to begin building the field of applied studies in Jewish education, as well as support the core operations of the Consortium that enable this work to proceed. To date, CASJE also has raised and committed $650,000 in research funds for its Jewish Educational Leadership in Day Schools program of research, and recently was awarded $325,000 by The Crown Family and $350,000 by an anonymous fund for a program of research exploring Jewish early childhood education as a gateway to greater engagement in Jewish life. CASJE continues to seek funding in these and its other areas of focus, which include Hebrew Language Education, Jewish Experiential Education at Camp, Global Jewish Peoplehood Education, and Economics of Jewish Education.

With a series of successful initiatives around Jewish Educational Leadership, Hebrew Language Education, Jewish Experiential Education at Camp, and Jewish Early Childhood Education, CASJE is seeking additional investors to support its work and fund specific programs of research.

CASJE’s Needs

CASJE has raised $3.6 million toward its core budget, leaving a gap of $1.1 million over the six years.

In addition, in order to do its work, CASJE must raise funds dedicated to research of the topics that emerge from conversations among funders, practitioners and researchers as the most pressing issues in Jewish education.

Get Involved

I strongly support CASJE’s work to influence the culture of philanthropy so that it becomes unimaginable for Jewish funders not to invest in research. Every time a funder makes a grant, we should ask, ‘What can be learned that will make us and the whole field smarter about how and where we invest our dollars?’ CASJE will help to ensure that question becomes second-nature to Jewish philanthropy.

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ABOUT CASJE

CASJE is an evolving community of researchers, practitioners, and philanthropic leaders dedicated to improving the quality of knowledge that can be used to guide the work of Jewish education. The Consortium supports research shaped by the wisdom of practice, practice guided by research, and philanthropy informed by a sound base of evidence.